an old town by the sea-第7章
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background。 The painter would find gay and sombre pigments ready mixed for his palette； and a hundred romantic incidents waiting for his canvas。 One of these romantic episodes has been turned to very pretty account by Longfellow in the last series of The Tales of a Wayside Innthe marriage of Governor Benning Wentworth with Martha Hilton； a sort of second edition of King Cophetua and the Beggar Maid。
Martha Hilton was a poor girl； whose bare feet and ankles and scant drapery when she was a child； and even after she was well in the bloom of her teens； used to scandalize good Dame Stavers； the innkeeper's wife。 Standing one afternoon in the doorway of the Earl of Halifax； （1。 The first of the two hotels bearing that title。 Mr。 Brewster commits a slight anachronism in locating the scene of this incident in Jaffrey Street； now Court。 The Stavers House was not built until the year of Governor Benning Wentworth's death。 Mr。 Longfellow； in the poem； does not fall into the same error。 〃One hundred years ago； and something more； In Queen Street； Portsmouth； at her tavern door； Neat as a pin； and blooming as a rose； Stood Mistress Stavers in her furbelows。〃）
Dame Stavers took occasion to remonstrate with the sleek…limbed and lightly draped Martha； who chanced to be passing the tavern； carrying a pail of water； in which； as the poet neatly says； 〃the shifting sunbeam danced。〃
〃You Pat！ you Pat！〃 cried Mrs。 Stavers severely； 〃why do you go looking so？ You should be ashamed to be seen in the street。〃
〃Never mind how I look；〃 says Miss Martha； with a merry laugh； letting slip a saucy brown shoulder out of her dress； 〃I shall ride in my chariot yet； ma'am。〃
Fortunate prophecy！ Martha went to live as servant with Governor Wentworth at his mansion at Little Harbor； looking out to sea。 Seven years passed； and the 〃thin slip of a girl；〃 who promised to be no great beauty； had flowered into the loveliest of women； with a lip like a cherry and a cheek like a tea…rosea lady by instinct； one of Nature's own ladies。 The governor； a lonely widower； and not too young； fell in love with his fair handmaid。 Without stating his purpose to any one； Governor Wentworth invited a number of friends （among others the Rev。 Arthur Brown） to dine with him at Little Harbor on his birthday。 After the dinner； which was a very elaborate one； was at an end； and the guests were discussing their tobacco…pipes； Martha Hilton glided into the room； and stood blushing in front of the chimney…place。 She was exquisitely dressed； as you may conceive； and wore her hair three stories high。 The guests stared at each other； and particularly at her； and wondered。 Then the governor； rising from his seat；
〃Played slightly with his ruffles； then looked down； And said unto the Reverend Arthur Brown： 'This is my birthday； it shall likewise be My wedding…day； and you shall marry me！'〃
The rector was dumfounded； knowing the humble footing Martha had held in the house； and could think of nothing cleverer to say than； 〃To whom； your excellency？〃 which was not cleaver at all。
〃To this lady；〃 replied the governor； taking Martha Hilton by the hand。 The Rev。 Arthur Brown hesitated。 〃As the Chief Magistrate of New Hampshire I command you to marry me！〃 cried the choleric old governor。
And so it was done； and the pretty kitchen…maid became Lady Wentworth； and did ride in her own chariot。 She would not have been a woman if she had not taken an early opportunity to drive by Staver's hotel！
Lady Wentworth had a keen appreciation of the dignity of her new station； and became a grand lady at once。 A few days after her marriage； dropping her ring on the floor； she languidly ordered her servant to pick it up。 The servant； who appears to have had a fair sense of humor； grew suddenly near…sighted； and was unable to the ring until Lady Wentworth stooped and placed her ladyship's finger upon it。 She turned out a faultless wife； however； and Governor Wentworth at his death； which occurred in 1770； signified his approval of her by leaving her his entire estate。 She married again without changing name； accepting the hand； and what there was of the heart； of Michael Wentworth； a retired colonel of the British army； who came to this country in 1767。 Colonel Wentworth （not connected； I think； with the Portsmouth branch of Wentworths） seems to have been of a convivial turn of mind。 He shortly dissipated his wife's fortune in high living； and died abruptly in New Yorkit was supposed by his own hand。 His last wordsa quite unique contribution to the literature of last wordswere； 〃I have had my cake； and ate it；〃 which showed that the colonel within his own modest limitations was a philosopher。
The seat of Governor Wentworth at Little Harbora pleasant walk from Market Squareis well worth a visit。 Time and change have laid their hands more lightly on this rambling old pile than on any other of the old homes in Portsmouth。 When you cross the threshold of the door you step into the colonial period。 Here the Past seems to have halted courteously； waiting for you to catch up with it。 Inside and outside the Wentworth mansion remains nearly as the old governor left it； and though it is no longer in the possession of the family； the present owners； in their willingness to gratify the decent curiosity of strangers； show a hospitality which has always characterized the place。
The house is an architectural freak。 The main buildingif it is the main buildingis generally two stories in height； with irregular wings forming three sides of a square which opens in the water。 It is； in brief； a cluster of whimsical extensions that look as if they had been built at different periods； which I believe was not the case。 The mansion was completed in 1750。 It originally contained fifty…two rooms； a portion of the structure was removed about half a century ago； leaving forty…five apartments。 The chambers were connected in the oddest manner； by unexpected steps leading up or down； and capricious little passages that seem to have been the unhappy afterthoughts of the architect。 But it is a mansion on a grand scale； and with a grand air。 The cellar was arranged for the stabling of a troop of thirty horse in times of danger。 The council…chamber； where for many years all questions of vital importance to the State were discussed； is a spacious； high…studded room； finished in the richest style of the last century。 It is said that the ornamentation of the huge mantel； carved with knife and chisel； cost the workman a year's constant labor。 At the entrance to the council…chamber are still the racks for the twelve muskets of the governor's guardso long ago dismissed！
Some valuable family portraits adorn the walls here； among which is a fine painting…yes； by our friend Copleyof the lovely Dorothy Quincy； who married John Hancock； and afterward became Madam Scott。 This lady was a niece of Dr。 Holme's 〃Dorothy Q。〃 Opening on the council…chamber is a large billiard…room； the billiard…table is gone； but an ancient spinnet； with the prim air of an ancient maiden lady； and of a wheezy voice； is there； and in one corner stands a claw…footed buffet； near which the imaginative nostril may still detect a faint and tantalizing odor of colonial punch。 Opening also on the council…chamber are several tiny apartments； empty and silent now； in which many a close rubber has been played by illustrious hands。 The stillness and loneliness of the old house seem saddest here。 The jeweled fingers are dust； the merry laughs have turned themselves into silent； sorrowful phantoms； stealing from chamber to chamber。 It is easy to believe in the traditional ghost that haunts the place
〃A jolly place in times of old； But something ails it now！〃
The mansion at Little Harbor is not the only historic house that bears the name of Wentworth。 On Pleasant Street； at the head of Washington Street； stands the abode of another colonial worthy； Governor John Wentworth； who held office from 1767 down to the moment when the colonies dropped the British yoke as if it had been the letter H。 For the moment the good gentleman's occupation was gone。 He was a royalist of the most florid complexion。 In 1775； a man named John Fenton；
